Navigating the process of divorce can no doubt be frustrating and overwhelming. However, being proactive early on can help people who are going through divorce to more confidently tackle divorce matters. Here is a rundown on what divorcing individuals would be wise to do before embarking on the path to marital dissolution in New York.
Gather any essential documents
At the start of the divorce process, it is critical that divorcing individuals gather a few core documents as quickly as possible. These documents include tax returns from the past five years. In addition, it may be necessary to obtain one’s most recent 1099 or W–2, policy related to life insurance, and postnuptial or prenuptial agreement.
The financial documents will provide information that may impact how assets are split or spousal support is handled during the divorce process. Meanwhile, a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement will spell out how the two divorcing parties agreed to address divorce matters, such as asset division, either before they got married (prenuptial agreement) or after their wedding day (postnuptial agreement).
Seek professional help and support
People who are going through the divorce process would be wise to consult a family law attorney as soon as possible as well. An experienced New York family law attorney can help people who are navigating a divorce to make educated decisions regarding the distribution of their marital property as well as child custody and other issues. An attorney can also help a divorcing individual to understand how the contents of his or her postnuptial or prenuptial agreement will impact the outcome of the divorce proceeding.